Ejection mechanism in IC card connector

ABSTRACT

In an IC card connector in which an IC card is inserted into a card receiving chamber through a card inlet port of a card case so that electrode pads of the IC card are brought into contactact with contacts of the card case, an ejecting mechanism in the IC card connector comprises a card pusher inserted into the card receiving chamber from outside the card case through a guide port provided on the card case and engageable with a front end face of the IC card. The card pusher is moved towards the card inlet port within the guide port to push the front end face of the IC card, so that a rear end portion of the IC card is ejected from the card inlet port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an ejection mechanism for ejecting an IC cardfrom an IC card connector of a device.

For inputting or outputting data by inserting an IC card having thereinan IC into a connector built in a personal computer or a camera, it is aconventional practice that the IC card is withdrawn by hand, or the ICcard is ejected by turning an ejecting lever by pressing an end portion,this end portion projecting from a card inlet port, of a control leverlinked to the ejecting lever within a card connector.

The method for withdrawing the IC card, which is inserted into the cardconnector and contacted, under pressure, with the contacts, by pullingan edge portion of the IC card slightly projecting from the card inletport with fingers has such shortcomings that the IC card is difficult towithdraw due to a large withdrawing resistance, and an external impacttends to be applied to a rear edge portion of the IC card which is, inuse, required to be exposed so as to be held by fingers.

Furthermore, in case the control lever and the ejecting lever areinstalled within the card case, the outer configuration of the card caseis increased in size and in addition, an end portion of the controllever is required to be projected from the card inlet port.

The present invention has been accomplished in view of theabove-mentioned shortcomings inherent in the conventional devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anejecting mechanism in an IC card connector which is simple inconstruction and yet capable of effectively ejecting a flat IC card froma flat IC card connector against the resistance of pressure contactbetween the IC card and contacts.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided in an IC card connector in which an IC cardis inserted into a card receiving chamber through a card inlet port of acard case so that electrode pads of the IC card are brought into contactwith contacts of the card case, an ejecting mechanism in the IC cardconnector comprising a card pusher inserted into the card receivingchamber from outside the card case through a guide port provided on thecard case and engageable with a front end face of the IC card. The cardpusher is moved towards the card inlet port within the guide port topush the front end face of the IC card, so that a rear end portion ofthe IC card is ejected from the card inlet port.

From another aspect of the present invention, there is provided in an ICcard connector having a card inlet port formed in a rear end face of acard case, in which an IC card is inserted into a card receiving chamberof the card case through the card inlet port so that electrode pads ofthe IC card thus inserted are brought into contact with contactsarranged within the card case, an ejecting mechanism in the IC cardconnector comprising a card pusher which can be inserted into the cardreceiving chamber from outside the card case through a pusher guide portopened at a front end face of the card case and opposing the card inletport. The card pusher is moved towards the card inlet port within theguide port to push the front end face of the IC card, so that a rear endportion of the IC card is ejected from the card inlet port. It ispreferred that a plurality of press-fit holes for the contacts open atthe front end face of the card case, terminal pieces for connecting awiring circuit board and continuous with first ends of the contacts areprojected outside the card case through the press-fit holes, and thepusher guide port is continuous with the press-fit holes.

From a further aspect of the present invention, there is also providedin an IC card connector having a card inlet port formed in a rear endface of a card case, in which an IC card is inserted into a cardreceiving chamber of the card case through the card inlet port so thatelectrode pads of the IC card thus inserted are brought into contactwith contacts arranged within the card case, an ejecting mechanism inthe IC card connector comprising a card pusher which can be insertedinto the card receiving chamber from outside the card case through apusher guide port open at a top plate of the card case and engageablewith a front end face of the IC card whose front end portion is exposedwithin the pusher guide port. The card pusher is moved towards the cardinlet port to push the front end face of the IC card, so that a rear endportion of the IC card is ejected from the card inlet port. It ispreferred that a front end portion of the pusher guide port opens at thefront end face of the card case.

The card pusher may be supported such that the card pusher is guided bythe top plate of the card case so as to be slid in a direction ofinsertion/withdrawal of the IC card.

It is preferred that the card pusher can be actuated by a control memberprovided on the side of a device having therein the IC card connector.

It is accepted that the card pusher forms a control member provided onthe side of a device having therein the IC card connector.

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A) is a plan view of an IC card connector according to the firstembodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 1(B) is a front view showing a front end face of a card caseconstituting the connector of FIG. 1(A);

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the IC card connector of FIGS. 1(A)-1(B);

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are sectional views showing the IC card connector ofFIGS. 1(A)-1(B) installed in a device;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an IC card connector according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the IC card connector of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an IC card connector according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the IC card connector of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an IC card connector according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9(A)-9(B) are sectional views of the IC card connector of FIG. 8,FIG. 9(A) shows a state that an IC card is in an inserted position, andFIG. 9(B) shows a state that an IC card is in an ejected position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an IC card connector according to thefifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 11(A)-11(B) are sectional views of the IC card connector of FIG.10, FIG. 11(A) shows a state that an IC card is in an inserted position,and FIG. 11(B) shows a state that an IC card is in an ejected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment (see FIGS.1(A)-1(B), 2, and 2(A)-3(B))

A connector body comprises a card case 1 made of insulative material andexhibits a flat and generally square configuration in a plan view. Thecard case I includes a card receiving chamber 4 formed between a topplate 2 and bottom plate 3, and a card inlet port 5 open at a rear endof the card receiving chamber 4, in other words, a rear end face of thecard case 1.

An IC card 6 is inserted into the card case 1, namely, card receivingchamber 4, through the card inlet port 5, so that electrode pads 7arranged on a lower surface of the IC card 6 will come into contactrespectively with contacts 8 disposed within the card case 1.

The IC card 6 has IC chips as memory elements, and a plurality ofelectrode pads 7 as external terminals of the IC chips. The electrodepads 7 are arranged in parallel relation along a direction perpendicularto a direction of insertion of the IC card 6. Similarly, the contacts 8are arranged along a parallel relation along a direction perpendicularto the direction of insertion of the IC card 6. Owing to thisarrangement, when the IC card 6 is inserted, the contacts on the frontand rear rows are brought into contact, under pressure, respectivelywith the electrode pads on the front and rear rows at a rear end of theinserted IC card 6. Through this pressure contact, the IC card 6 isconnected to a data processing circuit within a device.

The contacts 8 are each comprised of a conductive elongated pieceobtained by blanking and bending a metal plate. Each contact 8 includesa resilient elongated piece 9 slanted forwardly and upwardly from abasal end thereof towards a free end thereof, a contacting portion 10projecting upwardly from the free end of the resilient elongated piece9, and a terminal piece 11 provided on the other end thereof and adaptedto be connected to the data processing circuit within the device.

The contacts 8 each extending in a direction of insertion of the IC card6 are arranged in parallel relation (front and rear rows) along adirection perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the IC card 6.The contacts 8 on the front and rear rows are each fixed generally at abasal end thereof to a front wall 12 of the card case 1. The resilientelongated piece 9 of each contact 8 forwardly and upwardly extends fromits fixed portion into the card receiving chamber 4. The contactingportion 10 provided on the free end is arranged on an insertion path ofthe IC card 6. The terminal piece 11 extends through the front wall 12as the fixed portion of the contact 8 and projects outwardly.

As means for fixing the contact 8, the card case 1 is provided at thefront wall 12 with a plurality of press-fit holes 13 which open at thefront end face 14 of the card case 1 and communicate with the cardreceiving chamber 4. The press-fit holes 13 are arranged in parallelrelation in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion ofthe IC card 6. A connecting portion between the resilient elongatedpiece 9 and the resilient piece 11 of each contact 8 is fixedlypress-fitted into an inner wall of each press-fit hole 13.

The card case 1 has stands 26, 27 projecting from lower surfaces of itsfront and rear end portions, respectively. The stands 26, 27 are placedon the surface of a wiring circuit board 28. A positioning projection 29provided on a lower surface of the front stand 26 is inserted into apositioning hole formed in the wiring circuit board 28. The rear stand27 is provided with an internally threaded hole 30 which is open at alower surface thereof. The rear stand 27 is tightly secured to thewiring circuit board 28 by an externally threaded screw 32 threadinglyengaged in the internally threaded hole 30. The terminal piece 11 ofeach contact 8 extends downwardly to almost reach the lower surfaces(placing surfaces) of the stands 26, 27. A lower end of the terminalpiece 11 is bent generally horizontally to form a surface mounting piece31. The surface mounting piece 31 is welded to the surface of a leadpattern of the wiring circuit board 28 through a soldering paste. Thefront and rear ends of the card case is firmly fixed by means of thewelding portion and the threadingly engaged portion.

The foregoing description is commonly applicable to the second to fifthembodiments as later described. A pusher guide port 15 opposing the cardinlet port 5 is open at the card case front end face 14 at which thecontact press-fit hole 13 is open. The pusher guide port 15 extends allthe way through the front wall 12 and is communicated with the cardreceiving chamber 4. One end of the pusher guide port 15 faces the frontend face 16 of the IC card 6 which is inserted in the card receivingchamber 4.

There is provided a card pusher 17 as means for pushing the IC card 6out of the card case 1. It is designed such that the card pusher 17 isinserted into the card receiving chamber 4 from outside the card case 1so as to be engageable with the front end face of the IC card 6.

The card pusher 17 is movable in a card insertion/withdrawal directionwithin the guide port 15. Owing to this arrangement, by moving the cardpusher 17 towards the card inlet port 5 within the card guide port 5, inother words, by moving the card pusher 17 in a card withdrawaldirection, the pusher 17 pushes the front end face 16 of the IC card 6,so that the rear end portion of the IC card 6 is pushed out of the cardinlet port 5. By pinching the pushed-out portion of the IC card 6 withfingers, the IC card 6 can be withdrawn completely from the card case 1.

The card pusher 17 includes a pressing plate portion 18 which isinserted into the card receiving chamber 4 through the pusher guide port15. The pressing plate portion 18 extends in the card withdrawaldirection (towards the card inlet port) along the inner surface of thetop plate 2 of the card case 1. The card pusher 17 further includes aguide plate portion 19 extending towards the card inlet port 5 along theouter surface of the top plate 2. One end portion of the guide plateportion 19 is connected to one end portion of the pressing plate portion18 through a connecting portion 21 at the outside of the card case 1namely, at the front end face 14 of the card case 1, thereby defining aguide groove 20 between the pressing plate portion 18 and the guideplate portion 19.

The card pusher 17 is attached to the interior of the guide groove 20such that the front end portion of the top plate 2 of the card case 1 issandwiched therebetween. The pressing plate portion 18 and the guideplate portion 19 extend along the inner and outer surfaces of the topplate 2 as previously mentioned. Owing to this arrangement, the cardpusher 17 is guided between the inner surface of the top plate 2 and theinner surface of the bottom plate 3 in other words, between the upperand lower wall surfaces of the card receiving chamber 4, so that thecard pusher 17 can be moved in the card insertion/withdrawal direction.

It is accepted that a plurality of the pusher guide ports 15 areprovided and a plurality of the pressing plate portions 18 are providedin such a way as to correspond to the pusher guide ports 15. Thepressing plate portions 18 are arranged in parallel and symmetricalrelation so that the front end face 16 of the IC card 6 can be pushed bya uniform force. Of course, a single pressing plate portion 8 may beprovided.

Preferably, the front end face of the pressing plate portion 18 isgenerally the same in thickness as the front end face of the IC card 6so that the IC card 6 is pushed out with the front end face of thepressing plate portion 18 abutted with the front end face 16 of the ICcard 6. Therefore, the pressing plate portion 18 can move within a smallinsertion space for the IC card 6.

By moving the card pusher 17 from a standby position of FIG. 3(A) to anejected position of FIG. 3(B) towards the card inlet port 5, the cardpressing plate portion 18 presses the front end face of the IC card 6inserted in the card receiving chamber 4, so that the rear end portionof the card 6 is ejected from the card inlet port 5. As shown in FIG.3(B), by abutment of the connecting portion 21 between the pressingplate portion 18 and the guide plate portion 19 with the front end faceof the top plate 2, the card pusher 17 is limited in its movementtowards the card inlet port 5, thereby establishing an ejection quantityof the IC card 6.

The card pusher 17 moved to a position for pushing the IC card 6 ispushed by the front end face 16 of the IC card 6 when the IC card 6 isinserted again. Then, the card pusher 17 is moved to the standbyposition following the insertion of the IC card 6, so as to be ready forthe next ejection of the IC card 6.

As one preferred example, as shown in FIG. 1(B), the pusher guide port15 is continuous with the openings of the contact press-fit holes 13.That is, the contact press-fit holes 13 are arranged at a small pitch onthe front end face 14 of the card case 1, and the pusher guide port 15is provided in such a manner as to be continuous with the upper portionsof the adjacent contact press-fit holes 13. Accordingly, the pusherguide port 15 is continuous with and disposed between the adjacentcontact press-fit holes 13.

This makes it possible to provide the contact press-fit hole 13 and theadjacent press-fit holes 13 in continuous relationship at the front endface 14 of the card case I having a limited thickness.

As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the card pusher 17 is actuated bycontrol means provided on the side of the device having the IC cardconnector.

Also, the card pusher 17 is disposed such that it forms the controlmeans provided on the side of the device having the IC card connector.

The IC card connector is disposed within a device such as a personalcomputer, a camera, or the like. The card inlet port 5 opens at theouter wall 22 of the device, so that the IC card 6 can be inserted andwithdrawn therethrough.

A control button 23 is provided on the outer wall 22 of the deviceopposing the top plate 2, such that the control button 23 canreciprocally move in the card insertion/withdrawal direction. Thecontrol button 23 is engageable with the card pusher 17. That is, thepressing portion 25 of the control button 23 can be abutted with theouter surface of the connecting portion 21 of the card pusher 17. Byoperating the control portion 24 of the control button 23 exposed to theouter surface of the outer wall 22, the pressing portion 25 is caused topress the connecting portion 21 to move the card pusher 17 in the samedirection, so that the IC card 6 is ejected. Accordingly, the connectingportion 21 forms a pressure receiving portion for the control button 23.

It may be designed such that the card pusher 17 itself serves also asthe control button 23. That is, the card pusher 17 may be disposed onthe outer wall 22 of the device in such a manner as to be able to slidein the card insertion/withdrawal direction, so that it acts on the frontend face 16 of the IC card 6. In other words, the control button 23itself is disposed in such a manner as to act on the front end face ofthe IC card 6 through the pusher guide port 15 so that the controlbutton 23 can serve also as the card pusher 17.

When the IC card 6 is pushed out or ejected to the maximum extent by thecard pusher 17, the contacting portion 10 of each contact 8 is inpressure-contact relation with the lower surface of the IC card 6. Bythis, the IC card 6 is prevented from jumping out and dropping from thecard inlet port 5. The user can easily withdraw the IC card 6 simply byslightly pulling the IC card 6 with the fingers pinching the rear endportion of the IC card 6 sufficiently ejected by the card pusher 17.

The card pusher 17 is integrally molded from insulative material such assynthetic resin or the like. The card pusher 17 may be formed byblanking a metal plate having the same thickness as the IC card 6 andbending it.

Second Embodiment (see FIGS. 4 and 5)

This second embodiment shows a modification of the card pusher 17 in thefirst embodiment. The second embodiment is the same in construction asthe first embodiment only excepting the card pusher 17.

The card pusher 17 in the second embodiment does not have the guideplate portion 19 of the first embodiment. Pressing fingers 18' moveguided by the inner surface of the pusher guide port 15 opened at thefront end face 14 of the card case 1 and the inner surface of card casetop plate 2.

The pressing fingers 18' are arranged in parallel and symmetricalrelation. First ends of the pressing fingers 18' are connected togetherat the outside of the card case 1. The pressing fingers 18' are insertedinto the card receiving chamber 4 through the pusher guide port 15,which opens at the front end face 14 of the card case 1, such that theend faces of the pressing fingers 18' the end face of the IC card 6. Bydoing so, the end faces of the pressing fingers 18' are held in positionready to press the front end face 16 of the IC card 6.

A connecting portion for connecting the adjacent pressing fingers 18' isbent upwardly to form a pressure receiving portion 21'. The controlbutton slidably provided on the outer wall 22 of the device is broughtinto engagement with the pressure receiving portion 21'. Owing to thisarrangement, by moving the control button towards the card inlet port 5,the card pusher 17 is caused to move in the same direction, so that theIC card 6 is ejected by the pressing fingers 18'.

As in the first embodiment, the card pusher 17 itself may be served alsoas the control button. Since the card pusher 17 is formed with thepressure receiving portion 21' at its one end, it can be formed thinsuch that it is roughly within the range of the thickness of the cardcase 1.

The card pusher 17 having the above-mentioned construction can be madesimply by blanking a metal plate having generally the same thickness asthe IC card 6 and bending the pressure receiving portion 21'. This isvery advantageous for forming the card pusher 17 in a thin design.

Third Embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 7)

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the card pusher 17 in the secondembodiment. In the second embodiment, the connecting end portion of thecard pusher 17 is bent upwardly to form the pressure receiving portion21'. In the third embodiment, the pressure receiving portion 21' isdesigned to project on the same plane as the pressing fingers 18', sothat the card pusher 17 exhibits a flat configuration as a whole.

Accordingly, this card pusher 17 can be formed simply by flatly blankinga metal plate and therefore, can be formed in a thin design.

Fourth Embodiment (see FIGS. 8, and 9(A)-9(B))

In this fourth embodiment, the pusher guide port 15 is provided in thetop plate 2 of the card case 1. The construction of the connectoraccording to this fourth embodiment is the same as the first embodimentexcepting the guide port 15 and the card pusher 17.

The pusher guide port 15, which opens at the top plate 2, is designed toextend at one end thereof proximate to the front end face 14 of the cardcase 1. The front end portion of the IC card 6 is exposed within thepusher guide port 15.

There is a provision of the card pusher 17 which is inserted into thecard receiving chamber 4 from outside the card case 1 through the pusherguide port 15 and engageable with the front end face of the IC card 6.The card pusher 17 is supported by the outer wall 22 of the deviceopposing the top plate 2 in such a manner as to be movable in the cardinsertion/withdrawal direction. The card pusher 17 is provided on anupper portion thereof with the control portion 24 exposed to the outersurface of the outer wall 22. The pressing portion 25 provided on alower portion of the card pusher 17 is inserted into the card receivingchamber 4 through the pusher guide port 15 so as to be engageable withthe front end face of the IC card 6.

When the card pusher 17 is moved in a direction (card withdrawaldirection) of the card inlet port 5 from the standby position of FIG.9(A) by the control portion 24, the pressing portion 25 presses thefront end face of the IC card 6 so that the rear end portion of the ICcard 6 is ejected from the card inlet port 5.

In this fourth embodiment, the card pusher 17 also serves on the outerwall 22 of the device as the control button 23 operated by the user. Inthe alternative, however, it may be designed such that the card pusher17 for pushing the IC card 6 and the control button 23 operated by theuser are made of separate members respectively, so that the card pusher17 is actuated by sliding the control button 23, as in the firstembodiment.

Fifth Embodiment (see FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11(A)-11(B))

The fifth embodiment shows a modification of the pusher guide port 15 inthe fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the pusher guide port15 is designed to extend proximate to the front end face of the cardcase 1. In the fifth embodiment, the front end of the pusher guide port15 opens at the front end face 14 of the card case 1 as shown in FIG.10. In other words, the front wall 12 of the card case 1 is partlyremoved and the pusher guide port 15 opens therethrough.

In this example, as shown in FIGS. 11(A)-11(B), the pressing portion 25of the card pusher 17 can be inserted through an opening portion in thefront wall 12 of the card case 1, and therefore, the pressing portion 25can assuredly be engaged with the front end face 16 of the IC card 6which is inserted proximate to the inner surface of the front wall 12.

The pressing portion 25 of the card pusher 17 can be moved into and outof the card case 1 through the opening portion formed in the front endof the pusher guide port 15.

A plurality of the pusher guide ports 15 of the fourth and fifthembodiments may be provided. In that case, the card pusher 17 is alsoprovided with a plurality of pressing portions 25 corresponding to thepusher guide ports 15.

According to the present invention, by sliding the card pusher on theouter wall surface of the device in the direction of the card inletport, the IC card within the card case can assuredly be ejected.Moreover, the card case itself is not increased in thickness nor widthunlike a case where the lever, etc. constituting the ejecting mechanismare disposed within the card case. As a consequence, the purpose forejecting the IC card can be achieved while fulfilling the requirementfor a thin design.

In addition, the IC card can be ejected from the card inlet port withsuch an extremely simple construction that the card pusher inserted fromoutside the card case through the pusher guide port is moved within thepusher guide port towards the card inlet port.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, itwill be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification,variation and change without departing from its proper scope asexemplified by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In an IC card connector having a card inlet portformed in a rear end face of a card case, in which an IC card isinserted into a card receiving chamber, defined between top and bottomwalls of said card case, through said card inlet port so that electrodepads of said IC card thus inserted are brought into contact withcontacts arranged within said card case,an ejecting mechanism in said ICcard connector comprising: a card pusher which can be inserted into saidcard receiving chamber from outside said card case through a pusherguide port open at a front end face of said card case and opposing saidcard inlet port, said card pusher being moved towards said card inletport within said pusher guide port to push the front end face of said ICcard, so that a rear end portion of said IC card is elected from saidcard inlet port; and wherein a plurality of press-fit holes for saidcontacts are open at the front end face of said card case, terminalpieces for connecting a wiring circuit board and continuous with firstends of said contacts are projected outside said card case through saidpress-fit holes, and said pusher guide port is continuous with saidpress-fit holes.
 2. In an IC card connector having a card inlet portformed in a rear end face of a card case, in which an IC card isinserted into a card receiving chamber, defined between top and bottomwalls of said card case, through said card inlet port so that electrodepads of said IC card thus inserted are brought into contact withcontacts arranged within said card case,an ejecting mechanism in said ICcard connector comprising: a card pusher which can be inserted into saidcard receiving chamber from outside said card case through a pusherguide port open at a front end face of said card case and opposing saidcard inlet port, said card pusher being moved towards said card inletport within said pusher guide port to push the front end face of said ICcard, so that a rear end portion of said IC card is ejected from saidcard inlet port; and wherein said ejecting mechanism further includes acontrol member mounted for movement relative to said card case indirections toward and away from said card inlet port and which, whenmoved towards said card inlet port, pushes said card pusher toward saidcard inlet port, said control member including a pressing portionengageable against said card pusher and a control portion movable withsaid pressing portion and projecting away therefrom so that said controlportion can be exposed outwardly of a device in which said cardconnector is disposed to provide for control of said pressing portion.3. The ejecting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said card pusheris supported such that said card pusher is guided by the top wall ofsaid card case so as to be slid in a direction of insertion/withdrawalof said IC card.
 4. The ejecting mechanism of claim 2, whereinsaidcontrol member extends upwardly above said top wall of said card case.5. The ejecting mechanism of claim 2, whereinsaid control member ismounted for linear movement toward and away from said card inlet port.6. In an IC card connector having a card inlet port formed in a rear endface of a card case, in which an IC card is inserted into a cardreceiving chamber, defined between top and bottom walls of said cardcase, through said card inlet port so that electrode pads of said ICcard thus inserted are brought into contact with contacts arrangedwithin said card case,an ejecting mechanism in said IC card connectorcomprising: a card pusher which can be inserted into said card receivingchamber from outside said card case through a pusher guide port open ata front end face of said card case and opposing said card inlet port,said card pusher being moved towards said card inlet port within saidpusher guide port to push the front end face of said IC card, so that arear end portion of said IC card is ejected from said card inlet port;and wherein said ejecting mechanism further includes a control membermounted for movement relative to said card case in directions toward andaway from said card inlet port and which, when moved towards said cardinlet port, pushes said card pusher toward said card inlet port, saidcontrol member including a pressing portion engageable against said cardpusher and a control portion movable with said pressing portion andprojecting away therefrom so that said control portion can be exposedoutwardly of a device in which said card connector is disposed toprovide for control of said pressing portion; and wherein said controlportion of said control member is integral and unitary with saidpressing portion of said control member.
 7. The ejecting mechanism in anIC card connector according to claim 6, wherein said card pusher issupported such that said card pusher is guided by the top wall of saidcard case so as to be slid in a direction of insertion/withdrawal ofsaid IC card.
 8. The ejecting mechanism of claim 6, whereinsaid controlmember extends upwardly above said top wall of said card case.
 9. Theejecting mechanism of claim 6, whereinsaid control member is mounted forlinear movement toward and away from said card inlet port.
 10. An ICcard connector comprising:a card case having a top wall, a bottom wall,a card receiving chamber defined between said top and bottom walls, acard inlet port which opens at a rear end face of said card case andinto said card receiving chamber, a pusher guide port which opens at afront end face of said card case and into said card receiving chamber,and contacts arranged in said card case for contacting electrodes of anIC card when the IC card is received in said card receiving chamber; andan ejecting mechanism including a card pusher having a rear portioninserted into said card receiving chamber through said pusher guide portand being moveable in directions toward and away from said card inletport, said rear portion of said card pusher being engageable against afront end of the IC card when the IC card is received in said cardreceiving chamber, and a control member mounted movably relative to saidcard case for movement in directions toward and away from said cardinlet port; and wherein said control member includes a pressing memberfor engaging against and pushing said card pusher toward said card inletport to thereby cause said card pusher to push the IC card to eject arear end portion of the IC card from said card inlet port, and a controlportion to be accessed from outside a device containing said cardconnector, said control portion being operably engaged with saidpressing portion for pushing said pressing portion towards said cardinlet port to push said card pusher towards said card inlet port and tothereby push the IC card to eject the rear end portion of the IC cardfrom said card inlet port.
 11. The IC card connector of claim 10,whereinsaid control portion of said control member is integral andunitary with said pressing portion of said control member.
 12. The ICcard connector of claim 10, whereinsaid control member extends upwardlyabove said top wall of said card case.
 13. The IC card connector ofclaim 10, whereinsaid control member is mounted for linear movementtoward and away from said card inlet port.
 14. The IC card connector ofclaim 10, whereinsaid card pusher is supported such that said cardpusher is guided by the top wall of said card case so as to be slid in adirection of insertion/withdrawal of said IC card.